The Verde Valley knows its own. From the taco spot that has grown a two-generation following outside a neighborhood bar to a Main Street tattoo shop that has become a local institution, Cottonwood and Clarkdale’s top small businesses earned their community awards through real votes on Voted Number One.
This guide breaks down every winner across this batch, ranked by vote count, so you know exactly who the community is celebrating right now. Best local businesses in Cotton Valley.
Here’s what you’ll find:
- The most-voted business in the Cottonwood/Clarkdale batch, a family-run taco restaurant serving up front of a beloved neighborhood bar
- A Main Street tattoo and piercing studio that earned Diamond and Platinum recognition across two categories
- A second family taco business, the food truck that started it all before the restaurant location opened
- A West Sedona family’s Cottonwood location, recognized for authentic Mexican cooking rooted in a Mexico City tradition
- A Chicago-style hot dog truck that has rolled through the Verde Valley for three decades
- A private, one-on-one pet grooming studio, a family dry cleaner, and a Traditional Chinese Medicine practice, each earning its own community recognition
The final word belongs to the community.
The businesses below were voted number one by the people who know Cottonwood and Clarkdale best. Diamond Award winners are ranked by real community votes, because the final word always belongs to the community. Do you agree with these picks, or is there a local Arizona business that deserves more recognition? Sign up to join the next Voted Number One batch and help your favorite spots earn verified, community-powered recognition.
Cottonwood & Clarkdale Voted Number One Winners
| Business | Category | Award | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nana’s Tacos at The Chaparral Bar | Mexican Restaurant | Diamond | 51 |
| Nana’s Famous Tacos | Food Truck | Diamond | 39 |
| Dexterity Tattoo & Piercing | Piercing/Tattoo Shop | Diamond | 36 |
| Tortas de Fuego | Mexican Restaurant | Platinum | 18 |
| Dexterity Tattoo | Piercing/Tattoo Shop | Platinum | 13 |
| Dog Town USA and Beyond | Food Truck | Platinum | 2 |
| Dexterity Tattoo | Local Artist | Diamond | 1 |
| Diana’s Grooming Studio | Pet Grooming Service | Diamond | 1 |
| Maarres Dry Cleaning | Dry Cleaning Service | Diamond | 1 |
| Verde Valley Acupuncture | Acupuncture | Diamond | 1 |
Diamond Award, Mexican Restaurant: Nana’s Tacos at The Chaparral Bar
The most-voted winner in the entire Cottonwood/Clarkdale batch, Nana’s Tacos at The Chaparral Bar earned its Diamond Award for Best Mexican Restaurant with 51 community votes, more than any other business in this group. That kind of support does not happen by accident. Nana’s set up shop right outside The Chaparral Bar at 325 S Main Street, and the pairing of cold drinks with hot, made to order Mexican food turned into one of Cottonwood’s favorite combinations for locals looking to eat well while they catch the game or meet up with friends.
Indeed, the menu centers on birria. It showcases how birria is prepared and served with care. The presentation emphasizes texture, aroma, and the warm, cheesy finish. Overall, guests know what to expect from a birria-focused kitchen.
Birria tacos are the signature order, dunked in consomme and loaded with melted cheese. However, the kitchen also turns out tortas, birria ramen, burgers, and other Mexican classics. These options are built for pairing with a cold beer or a cocktail from the bar. The menu balances bold flavors with approachable favorites for a varied crowd.
The Chaparral Bar is a family-owned neighborhood gathering spot. With pool tables, Golden Tee, cornhole, karaoke nights, and regular DJs, Nana’s has built a following. As a result, it stands as one of the Best local businesses in Cotton Valley.
| Award | Diamond, Best Mexican Restaurant (51 votes) |
|---|---|
| Signature Menu | Birria tacos, quesabirria, tortas, birria ramen, burgers |
| Setting | Located just outside The Chaparral Bar, a family-owned neighborhood bar |
| Bar Entertainment | Pool tables, Golden Tee, cornhole, darts, karaoke, DJ nights |
| Great For | Game day food, happy hour bites, group hangouts |
| Location | 325 S Main Street, Cottonwood, AZ 86326 |
| Phone | (928) 254-8809 |
| Online | thechaparralbar.com/nanas-tacos |
Diamond Award, Food Truck: Nana’s Famous Tacos
Before there was a taco stand outside The Chaparral Bar, there was the truck. Nana’s Famous Tacos earned its own Diamond Award for Best Food Truck with 39 community votes, recognizing the mobile side of the Nana’s family operation that has become one of the most familiar names in Verde Valley street food. The truck is run by owner Cecilia Quiroz and serves the wider Verde Valley, rolling through Cottonwood and beyond rather than sitting at a single fixed address.
The menu leans into the same birria-forward style that made the brand a local favorite, alongside tacos, burritos, and other Mexican street food staples cooked to order. What sets a food truck apart from a restaurant is flexibility, and Nana’s Famous Tacos uses that to its advantage, showing up at community events, popping up around town, and giving Verde Valley residents a chance to get their fix even when they are not near the Chaparral Bar location. For a lot of locals, this truck was their first introduction to Nana’s cooking, long before the restaurant partnership came along.
| Award | Diamond, Best Food Truck (39 votes) |
|---|---|
| Ownership | Family-owned, operated by Cecilia Quiroz |
| Signature Menu | Birria tacos, burritos, and classic Mexican street food |
| Service Area | Serving the greater Verde Valley, including Cottonwood |
| Great For | Community events, quick lunches, catching the truck on the move |
| Location | Serving the Verde Valley, Cottonwood, AZ 86326 |
| Phone | (928) 254-8809 |
| Online | Cottonwood Chamber listing |
Diamond & Platinum Awards, Piercing/Tattoo Shop and Local Artist: Dexterity Tattoo & Piercing
Dexterity Tattoo & Piercing earned community recognition across three awards. It secured a Diamond Award for Best Piercing/Tattoo Shop with 36 votes, a Platinum Award in the same category with 13 more votes, and a Diamond Award for Best Local Artist. Combined, that totals the second-highest vote total of any business in this batch, and it reflects a shop with real depth on its roster rather than a single standout artist carrying the whole studio. Best local businesses in Cotton Valley
Located at 14 South Main Street in the heart of Cottonwood, Dexterity operates as a full-service tattoo and piercing studio with a small team of working artists, including 2LER, Isaac, G.G, and a dedicated piercer known locally as the Princess of Piercing. That range lets clients walk in for anything from a first ear piercing to a large custom piece and find an artist whose style fits the job. The shop keeps regular afternoon and evening hours, welcomes walk-ins alongside scheduled appointments, and has built its reputation the old-fashioned way, through repeat clients who keep coming back for their next piece and send friends and family through the door.
| Award | Diamond, Piercing/Tattoo Shop (36 votes) + Platinum, Piercing/Tattoo Shop (13 votes) + Diamond, Local Artist |
|---|---|
| Services | Custom tattoos, flash work, body piercing |
| Artist Roster | 2LER, Isaac, G.G, Princess of Piercing, and other studio artists |
| Hours | Open daily, afternoon through evening (check current hours online) |
| Booking | Walk-ins welcome, appointments available |
| Location | 14 South Main Street, Cottonwood, AZ 86326 |
| Phone | (928) 641-4720 |
| Online | dexteritytattoo.com |
Platinum Award, Mexican Restaurant: Tortas de Fuego
Tortas de Fuego earned a Platinum Award for Best Mexican Restaurant in Cottonwood with 18 community votes, extending a family legacy that started decades before this location opened. The Sanchez-Jimenez family arrived in the United States from Mexico City in 1990 with a commitment to bringing authentic Mexican cooking to the Southwest, and that mission eventually grew into three Verde Valley locations, including the Cottonwood restaurant sitting at the busy intersection of AZ-260 and AZ-89A.
Inside, the space is bright and festive, decorated with vibrant Mexican decor and set up for both quick lunches and full family dinners. The menu covers the classics: tortas, tacos, burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, and fajitas, all made fresh with a kitchen that reviewers consistently point to for its homemade chips, salsa, and mole. Vegetarian options are available, prices stay accessible, and the location’s regular Taco Tuesday and Margarita Monday specials have made it a recurring stop for Cottonwood locals rather than an occasional treat.
| Award | Platinum, Best Mexican Restaurant (18 votes) |
|---|---|
| Founded By | The Sanchez-Jimenez family, from Mexico City |
| Arrived in Arizona | 1990 |
| Signature Menu | Tortas, tacos, burritos, enchiladas, fajitas, house-made salsa and mole |
| Specials | Taco Tuesday, Margarita Monday |
| Hours | Daily, 10:00am to 9:00pm |
| Location | 1075 AZ-260, Cottonwood, AZ 86326 |
| Phone | (928) 202-3677 |
| Online | tortasdefuegosedona.com |
Platinum Award, Food Truck: Dog Town USA and Beyond
Dog Town USA and Beyond earned a Platinum Award for Best Food Truck with community votes recognizing over 30 years of roots in the Verde Valley. This locally owned, family-run truck specializes in Chicago-style Vienna Beef hot dogs, a rare find in Northern Arizona, along with smash burgers, loaded fries, and other counter-service comfort food. The truck moves between Cottonwood, Clarkdale, Jerome, and Camp Verde, showing up at local rodeos, school events, fundraisers, and community gatherings across the region.
What locals keep coming back for is the combination of an authentic Chicago-style dog, built with the classic toppings and celery-salt fries, and the friendliness of a genuinely local, family-operated crew. The business describes itself as more than just a food stand, calling its customers neighbors rather than just diners, and that community-first approach shows in a menu that stays simple, consistent, and reliably good rather than chasing trends. Catering is available for private events, making the truck a popular choice for parties and celebrations across the Verde Valley.
| Award | Platinum, Best Food Truck |
|---|---|
| Ownership | Family-run, over 30 years in the Verde Valley |
| Signature Menu | Chicago-style Vienna Beef hot dogs, smash burgers, celery-salt fries |
| Service Area | Cottonwood, Clarkdale, Jerome, and Camp Verde |
| Great For | Local events, rodeos, fundraisers, private catering |
| Online | dogtownusaandbeyond.com |
Diamond Award, Pet Grooming Service: Diana’s Grooming Studio
Diana’s Grooming Studio earned a Diamond Award for Best Pet Grooming Service, recognizing a private, one-on-one grooming approach that has built a loyal following of Cottonwood pet owners. Rather than running multiple dogs through a shared space at once, Diana grooms one animal at a time, giving each pet a calmer, less stressful visit and giving owners the confidence that their dog is getting full, undivided attention.
With more than ten years of professional grooming experience, Diana works with all sizes and breeds, and neighbors consistently describe her as patient, gentle, and genuinely attentive to nervous or anxious dogs. That reputation has spread almost entirely through word of mouth in the local community, with longtime clients recommending her by name to friends and family looking for a groomer they can trust. For pet owners who want a quiet, unhurried studio setting instead of a high-volume salon, Diana’s has become the go-to name in Cottonwood.
| Award | Diamond, Best Pet Grooming Service |
|---|---|
| Format | Private, one-on-one grooming studio |
| Experience | 10+ years of professional grooming |
| Specialty | All sizes and breeds welcome, calm environment for anxious pets |
| Location | Cottonwood, AZ |
| Phone | (928) 399-0053 |
| Online | Diana’s Grooming Studio LLC – Nextdoor |
Diamond Award, Dry Cleaning Service: Maarres Dry Cleaning
Maarres Dry Cleaning earned a Diamond Award for Best Dry Cleaning Service, standing out in a category where trust and consistency matter more than almost anything else. This family-owned business, located on South Main Street in Cottonwood, has built its name on meticulous care for clothing and a quick, reasonable turnaround, the kind of dependable service that keeps customers coming back visit after visit rather than shopping around.
Reviewers point to the shop’s willingness to make things right when something does not come out perfectly the first time. This small detail speaks to a bigger commitment to customer satisfaction. Maarres handles everyday dry cleaning and laundry alongside more specialized items, and the family behind the counter takes pride in treating every garment with the same level of care.
Maarres is recognized as one of the Best local businesses in Cotton Valley. For Cottonwood residents, Maarres has become the trusted local choice. The family-run operation emphasizes care, consistency, and personal accountability. This approach appeals to residents who value reliable service and visible pride in workmanship.
| Award | Diamond, Best Dry Cleaning Service |
|---|---|
| Ownership | Family-owned and operated |
| Services | Dry cleaning, laundry, quick turnaround |
| Known For | Meticulous care, reasonable pricing, standing behind their work |
| Location | 718 S Main Street, Cottonwood, AZ 86326 |
| Phone | (928) 451-5673 |
| Online | Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce |
Diamond Award, Acupuncture: Verde Valley Acupuncture
Verde Valley Acupuncture earned a Diamond Award for Best Acupuncture practice, capping off more than two decades of service to the Cottonwood community. Led by Jeanette Campbell, a licensed acupuncturist and Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner who has been in private practice since 1996, the clinic has served Cottonwood since 2001 and built a reputation as a trusted resource for pain relief, stress reduction, and overall wellness through Eastern medicine.
The practice offers a full range of Traditional Chinese Medicine services, including acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, gua sha, therapeutic massage, and an on-site herbal pharmacy for custom Chinese herbal formulas. Campbell blends Eastern and Western medical principles in her approach, tailoring every treatment to the individual rather than running a one-size-fits-all practice, and the clinic is a contracted Veterans Administration provider for both massage therapy and acupuncture, extending access to local veterans seeking these services. Located in Old Town Cottonwood, the clinic remains a go-to option for Verde Valley residents looking for a safe, natural approach to healing.
| Award | Diamond, Best Acupuncture Practice |
|---|---|
| Led By | Jeanette Campbell, L.Ac, Dip. Oriental Medicine |
| Serving Cottonwood Since | 2001 |
| Services | Acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, gua sha, massage, Chinese herbal medicine |
| Notable | Contracted VA provider for massage therapy and acupuncture |
| Location | Cottonwood Old Town Plaza, Cottonwood, AZ 86326 |
| Phone | (928) 639-3700 |
| Online | verdevalleyacupuncture.com |
Conclusion
Cottonwood and Clarkdale’s award winners span a genuinely wide range of community needs, from birria tacos served at a neighborhood bar to custom tattoos on Main Street, from Chicago-style hot dogs rolling through four Verde Valley towns to the quiet, one-on-one care of a private pet groomer, a family dry cleaner, and a Traditional Chinese Medicine practice with roots going back to 2001.
Nana’s Tacos at The Chaparral Bar leads the pack as the most-voted winner in this batch, proof that a great taco stand paired with a beloved neighborhood bar can capture a community’s loyalty better than almost anything else. Dexterity Tattoo & Piercing follows close behind, earning recognition across three separate awards and showing the depth of talent on its Main Street roster. Nana’s Famous Tacos, the food truck that started the family’s local following, and Tortas de Fuego, carrying forward a Mexico City family tradition, round out the top of the Mexican food and food truck categories. Dog Town USA and Beyond, Diana’s Grooming Studio, Maarres Dry Cleaning, and Verde Valley Acupuncture each earned their own Diamond or Platinum recognition, proof that community loyalty runs just as deep for the local hot dog truck, the family dry cleaner, and the small wellness practice as it does for the busiest restaurant in town.
These businesses earned their recognition from the people who know Cottonwood and Clarkdale best, the neighbors who vote with both their loyalty and their word of mouth.
Find More of Cottonwood’s Best Local Businesses on Voted Number One
Voted Number One is a community recognition platform built around a straightforward idea: the people who actually use local businesses are the best judges of which ones deserve recognition. Each year, businesses across Arizona are nominated and voted on by the communities they serve, creating a public, community-backed record of the restaurants, shops, and local services that real customers trust and return to.
Whether you’re searching for more highly rated local businesses in Cottonwood and Clarkdale or want to see a favorite earn its own Diamond Award, Voted Number One is where that recognition lives.
Explore all Voted Number One Diamond Award winners →
Sources:
- The Chaparral Bar official website: thechaparralbar.com
- Nana’s Famous Tacos, Greater Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce listing: business.cottonwoodchamberaz.org
- Dexterity Tattoo & Piercing official website: dexteritytattoo.com
- Tortas de Fuego official website: tortasdefuegosedona.com
- Dog Town USA and Beyond official website: dogtownusaandbeyond.com
- Diana’s Grooming Studio, Nextdoor business listing: nextdoor.com
- Maarres Dry Cleaning, Greater Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce listing: business.cottonwoodchamberaz.org
- Verde Valley Acupuncture official website: verdevalleyacupuncture.com
- Voted Number One community voting data: votednumberone.com